A man is memorialising iconic Salford pubs through a new artwork project.
Artist John Unsworth, who previously worked in Salford and married a “Broughton girl,” is commemorating the City’s most recognisable watering holes, past and present, through a collection of sketches.
The 70-year-old decided to pay homage to Salford’s boozers because he “loves the city, its history and the regeneration.” As a tribute, he is in the process of putting together a calendar memorialising 12 of Salford’s finest drinking spots, including ones that poured their last pint years ago.
The artist outlined how his “love of perspective and drawing structures” is reflected in his work and described how Salford’s ever-changing skyline allows for a stark contrast to be created between the pub-focused foreground and cityscape backdrop.
While Unsworth explained he has never had formal training and “lost touch and inclination” for curating art as his career progressed, he rediscovered love for drawing in “semi-retirement” and has had an illustration of Appelby in Cumbria exhibited in a gallery.
Unsworth devised a long list of pubs to feature in the calendar, but after his work gained popularity on social media, he decided all of the pubs he would include would be recommendations from Salfordians.
The running order in the calendar will be: Bridge Hotel, London and North Western, Woolpack, Egerton Arms, Regent Hotel, Langworthy Hotel, Ye Olde Nelson, King’s Arms, Druids Rest, Spread Eagle, Borough Inn and Black Lion.
“At first I thought the London and North Western on Cross Lane looked a bit like the Langworthy and was concerned it could be a duplicate,” he said.
“But I found you can see the Carlton Cinema on the left and the gasworks on the right. I just loved the composition of that piece.”
For Unsworth the focus of his work stretches beyond his sketches of drinking spots, it commemorates “The people behind those buildings and the people that would have attended.”
“There is an argument that the decline of pubs is the reason for the decline of communities. Pubs are not just somewhere to get a pint, they are somewhere to go and meet people and socialise, a community hub,” he says.
“I went on Facebook and explained that I was looking at doing the ‘Salford pubs on paper project’ and sent across some samples of my previous work. I was delighted to get loads of really good feedback, encouragement and recommendations about the ones to feature.
“You are really spoiled for choice with pubs in Salford and I think I will do another calendar next year with a completely new set of subjects.”
In addition to Unsworth’s sketches, each work comes with a short verse or anecdote about the featured pub. “For example, at the Spread Eagle, the first hot air balloon was launched from their backyard.”
When asked to pick out his favourite pub, Unsworth’s response was immediate. “The Egerton Arms is a great pub and, being the age I am, George Best used to go there, which is a great excuse to feature them.”
The angle I’ve used I’ve got the Egerton arms in the foreground and then the new high rises in the background. I have made a point of putting them in because I think that they are both relevant. You’ve got the pub front and centre and then these impressive high rises in the background.
The self-effacing artist is modest about his talent and his “limitations.” He said that “some artists can make a drawing as realistic as possible, almost like a photo, which is commendable. But I like that my drawings look like drawings.”
“I love drawing and putting together this project of Salford pubs has been really exciting,” he said.
More of John’s Artwork can be viewed here.
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